Still not enough to deter Cooke-like attacks.... Thornton's willingness just doesn't scare anyone... see King fight last night Horton has shyed away from the battles for quite awhile now.Posted by Griswal65

I think you are wrong here..

thornton does not scare king in a fight no, nor should he, and vice versa..

the fact is few of your "goons" enforcers, etc. are throwing these dirty questionable hits..

And Thornton certainly scares Cooke, see video from last year if you want proof..

Still not enough to deter Cooke-like attacks.... Thornton's willingness just doesn't scare anyone... see King fight last night Horton has shyed away from the battles for quite awhile now.Posted by Griswal65

you're a complete idiot... you're saying thornton has lost his toughness? since when?! and to bench him for mcgrattan after he was just re-signed just shows you know absolutely nothing about hockey. you should seriously just delete your account right now that was the most embarassing thing ive heard someone else say. i wont even mention paille for reich. oh and yeah cuz those "cooke-like" attacks happen ALL the time and are ALWAYS the most important thing to worry about when your star is on the ice...

I think some people throw the word "tougher" around in the wrong way. Gris your saying they arent tougher why? are you using the word tougher strictly based upon someone who will drop the gloves in a fighters role?

when i think of tougher i think of bruisers/checkers. this team can be tough as most of you mentioned when they are healthy.

this team is loaded with guys who will be bruising other teams, with many willing to drop the gloves. thornton, looch, stuart, gratts, mcquaid will all drop them when needed. dont forget about almost 7 ft dman who takes no s**t from anyone.

There is a certain 10% of the fanbase that will always yearn for the spectacle of 1970's bench clearing brawls and side show fistacuffs instead of real hockey, and that 10% will always obsess over this bizarre notion of "toughness" instead of talent.

The Bruins should have plenty of toughness, compete level, and talent. As for dropping the gloves 5 times a game...who cares?

The Bruins should have plenty of toughness, compete level, and talent.Posted by Fletcher1

I agree with you on the toughness and talent, when healthy. It's the "compete level" that I'm interested in. It's been inconsistent. When they compete hard they win the vast majority of their games. I'm hoping that is what they learned from their recent post-season failures.

I have a good feeling about this team......they just need to stay healthy.

In Response to Re: How is this Year's Team Tougher?? : Completely agree. Guys like Thornton and Mcgrattan offer nothingto the game. There was no need for Thornton to be resignedPosted by screw-cindy-and-ovie

I won't say they offer nothing. Their role on the team has decreased a lot, but the only reason that role has decreased a lot is because of the stinkin' instagator rule! All it does is allow the Matt Cooke's, Shawn Avery's & Steve Ott's have a longer career & helps them to end the career's of other's. Nothing makes my blood boil more than to see these weasal's go around doing what they do & the league protects them, but don't protect the stars! Complete & total lunacy.

I don't think we need to worry about being tougher, I'd be a bit more worried about scoring goals personally. Besides Looch, Chara, Thornton, Stuart, Boychuck Seids and as mention Stone Hands Pialle, all pretty tough. Ohh um Wheeler is tougher this year? not too sure if you detected hesitancy in that sentence, but I did read that in some reputable article I'm sure.

(1) Stuart is healthy is extra toughness(2) Chara is back this year and back to old form with a shut d his attitude will be less penalties and stay out the box will be better for Bruins(3) Thornton will be still our enforcer and having Mcgrattan on the side is a big maybe(4) Marchand will be our new pain in the neck to the opponents or rat(5) Looch will keep his eye out for Krejci(until Savard returns) and Horton(6) Mcquaid(will drop the gloves) will be our# 6 d man if Hunwick loses his hunger(7) Boychuk can take care of himself(8) Bergy and Rechhi can also take care of themselves